If you're struggling to play tactics sim Menace, it could be because your antivirus is randomly deleting files

This week saw the early access launch of turn-based tactics game Menace, created by the piss-swigging misanthropes behind Battle Brothers. Julian has been having a wonderful time playing it and learning about the importance of spare ammo and adequate reconnaissance. It could have been worse, Julian. Your antivirus software could have deleted some of the game’s files. This being one of the currently known issues listed in the patch notes for the game’s first proper update.

“Some antivirus programs incorrectly classify the ‘GameAssembly.dll’ file as malware and delete it, making the game unplayable,” explains the Steam post in question. “If that happens please whitelist the ‘GameAssembly.dll’ and ‘Menace.exe’.” A simple-enough fix, then.

I’m not sure why, exactly, some antivirus programs have a bone to pick with Menace, and I have to say, I am a little suspicious. It’s not like Steam games are malware-proof. The other way of looking at it, of course, is that your antivirus is trying gallantly to spare you the humiliation of being pinned down and bombarded by some entry-level space pirates. You, the pride and flower of the Terran Congressional Republic Navy!

As if there weren’t already pirates enough, the update adds a few more: “pirate veteran scavengers”, “pirate veteran scavenger armor”, and the fearsome-sounding “pirate heavy machinegun truck”. Julian! Stop sobbing into your Space Weetabix and help me make sense of these miscellaneous game tweaks. They’ve adjusted the splash screen for ultra wide monitors, which sounds positive, but I’m not sure what to make of “anti-tank mines now also trigger for especially large units other than vehicles”. Are you a mine-layer, Julian, or do you tend to be the one triggering them?

There are some hefty balancing tweaks in here too. They’ve added a heat mechanic to laser rifles and plasma rifles, instead of regular ammunition, and given pirate EMP units a motion scanner accessory. That’s going to ruin somebody’s day (Julian’s). Are you playing Menace? Seems like it’s a sturdy bit of turn-based brain-o-war, whatever your antivirus provider may determine.